"Quite cheap," said Miss Agnes, looking at the riband; "but I don't know what you will do with so much of it." "Oh, I shall find some use for it; in a large family, nothing comes amiss." A pretty, little girl, about eight years old, ran into the room, and, skipping up to her mother, whispered, "Here comes a carriage, mamma, and some ladies." "Who is it, Elinor?" asked Mrs. Wyllys, of her niece, who was sitting near the window. "The Hubbards," she replied. "What, Patsey Hubbard?" "Oh, no; her cousins--very different persons. The Longbridge Hubbards, whose acquaintance you have not yet made." Two ladies, radiant with elegance, entered the room, and were introduced, by Miss Agnes, to her sister-in-law, as Mrs. Hilson, and Miss Emmeline Hubbard. They were both young; quite pretty; very fashionably dressed; very silly in their expressions, and much alike, in every respect. After a few preliminary speeches, Mrs. Hilson remarked, that she was very glad Mrs. Wyllys had come to join their rustic circle. "Thank you," replied the lady; "Longbridge is a favourite place of mine; but I have not yet seen many traces of rusticity, here." "Why, no, Julianna," observed Miss Emmeline, "I don't think our village is at all a rustic place. We have too many advantages of communication with the city for that." "It is true," said Mrs. Hilson, "Longbridge has always been a very aristocratic place. You know, Miss Wyllys," turning to Miss Agnes, "we have our 'West-End,' and our 'exclusives.'" {"West End" = from the fashionable West End of London} "I was not aware of it; but then I am really a rustic," Miss Wyllys added, smiling. "Yes, it is unfortunate, you should be so far from the village. Emmeline and I often pity you, Miss Elinor, for being so far from genteel society." "That is scarcely worth while, I assure you, for we have several pleasant families, within a short distance." "But only a very small circle, however. Now we have quite a large set of aristocratic people, in the village. Some of our inhabitants are very refined, I assure you, Mrs. Wyllys." The lady bowed. "You will find your two next neighbours, Mrs. Bibbs and Mrs. Tibbs, very fascinating ladies," observed Miss Emmeline. "Mrs. Bibbs is one of our beauties; and Mrs. Tibbs, our most elegant dresser." "Emmeline is going over the Court Calendar, for you, already," said Mrs. Hilson, laughing fashionably. {"Court Calendar" = from the section of British newspapers devoted to the schedule and appearances of the Royal Family} "Are these ladies the wives of judges?" inquired Mrs. Wyllys. "Oh, no; Mrs. Tibbs is the lady of our physician, and Mrs. Bibbs is a 'marchande,'--she is a very fascinating lady, and has a fine flow of conversation. She was a great belle, at Saratoga, a year or two since; you may, perhaps, have met her there?" inquired Mrs. Hilson. "Not that I know of; but I have not been at Saratoga for years."